26th April 12 miles (19.3km) Silver City
Highway Camp (149.4) to Silver City (161.4)
Silver City
I had a dream last night. I was hiking across Antarctica. Two penguins were following me. Every time I looked behind me they were there.
I asked them, ‘Why are you following me’.
‘So you can eat us when you run out of food’, they said.
I woke up. Strange dream. It was about 3am and freezing cold. It was quite warm when I went to bed so I had unzipped my sleeping bag. Did the cold make me dream of Antarctica? Did my hunger make me dream of eating penguins?
I ate the last if my food at breakfast. Just a 12 mile walk to town on a highway. It was cold, very cold in the morning. Crunchmaster had ice in his water bottle and his Sawyer filter failed. They don’t work once frozen. Even if it looks like it is filtering water it actually does not. He was not happy. Which made me think, is my filter also broken! Talking about broken. My Patagonia jacket zipper failed. A couple hits with my titanium pot closed the zipper. Now it works again.
Thirty minutes into our road walk it started to rain. Then the sun came out, then it started snowing, then the sun came out again. Four seasons in one hour. But one thing stayed the same. It was cold.
Crunchmaster has been in pain for days. His feet are killing him, actually just one of his toes. ‘I’m going to get it checked out when we get to town’, he said. It might be broken.
I was craving ice cream. So we all ended up at Dairy Queen. One large blizzard has half the recommended daily intake of calories for an average human. Lucky I’m not average.
Rest
The three of us checked into the Motel 6 at Silver City. They have been nice to us. They gave us two rooms for the price of one. Yes, that’s right. Two rooms for two nights. At around $18 each per night. Bargain.
We ate Pizza. Oh boy did we eat pizza. Have you ever seen a sloth? That slow moving creature that inhabits the jungles in Central and South America. We were three slothes in the hotel room. We tried very hard to watch the PCT Class of 2015 video. But wifi was impossibly slow. Eventually we watched the whole video. I’ve added the video below. Watch it. It is very well done.
our camp in a dry creek bed with a storm fast approaching
impressive storm clouds approaching
then a brief snow storm
approaching town i thought i should dress a bit better
downtown silver city
thats a lot of food for 3 people, and we are wayching the PCT 2015 video
i tried but failed
Next – Day 10 A Day of Rest
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What a great PCT class of 2015 video!!!!! Just amazing…. and so emotional! Well done !!!!
It was great
That photo of the storm approaching is absolutely stunning. So many beautiful colors all at once! We love our Dairy Queens here in Texas ~ hubby and I stopped at one on the road today for lunch, in fact. No blizzard for me, though! It seems strange to me that the desert would have freezing temps and even snow at this time of year. Was it the same way in the desert in Southern California last year?
I do like Ice cream. It was the same in California last year, and again this year. In fact worse. It was snow storm after snow storm in the desert last year. Many hikers quit, it was too cold and too hard. The forecast has cold temps near freezing for the next week. It’s all part of the experience. But I do love warm weather.
I do like the tie, but is carrying the extra weight worth it? I’m enjoying your trip. You tell a great story, I like hearing about all parts of it, from the critters, weather, and the other hikers. I look forward to your everyday posts. I also like the way you put some descriptions with some of the pictures. You make a really good reporter! Keep up the good work. I have been following Sally on the PCT. She is around mile 392 near Cajon Pass. Having toe problems, but forging on!
Thanks for the kind words. We all suffer toe or foot problems to some extent. I actually found the tie in the side of the road. Possibly some drunken bucks party or wedding. It was disposed of more thoughtfully in town. I haven’t heard from Sally for a few days, always keen to hear her progress.
Hey Brad – great trip so far. You were in Lordsburg earlier in the week – I grew up in San Diego, and every summer we’d drive to Tennessee to visit family, and Lordsburg was one day drive from SD, so we’d stop there for the night. Not a lot there then, and looks like there’s even less now. I don’t know how a town like that makes it. Maybe it’s the tourists on the interstate that keeps them in business. What a depressing place, now.
I’ve noticed on this CDT trip that your pictures have a slight orange/yellow tint to them that you didn’t have on the PCT last year – what did you change to account for the tinge of color?
Enjoy your stay in Silver City – eat more pizza. Stay safe, mate.
Mike M, Riverside, CA
Not much happening in Lordsburg. I suspect mining may have been big at one stage. I think it’s just the interstate and rail line that keeps it going. Most fast food restaurants have closed. I use an app on my phone called Enlight to edit my photos, I suspect that is causing the changes. Thanks for pointing it out. I use a couple of pre sets, I’ll look at changing them. Thanks for pointing it out. By the way, I never want to eat another pizza again. I’m so full. Well, maybe not for a couple if weeks.
Nice tie! You got class.
Class and the mention of me are rarely used in conjunction. Haha
Watched the 2015 video last night. Thought it was well done. Crazy weather you’re having. I’m chilling at Hiker Heaven Is your friend on trail? Can’t recall her name. ADL
It’s an awesome video. The guy who edited it is back hiking the PCT again this year. Sally should be somewhere near you.